50 Best Chinese Restaurants near La Jolla

“If you’re on the UCSD campus and craving real Chinese food, this place is honestly a gem. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is warm and lively, and the employees make you feel welcome. What really stood out to me is that the owner himself walks around, talks to customers, checks in, and makes sure everyone is having a good time. It feels very welcoming.

And I have to say this, the Oreo boba here is my personal favourite!“

“Best Chinese and Mai Tai's in San Diego or maybe the US“

“I certainly can't speak to to authenticity, but the food was delicious. I would say probably some of the best I've had in all of California, which is probably saying a lot as I've traveled throughout for work.

This location is a cute little place with about eight booths. A very cozy ambiance. And the service was excellent!“

“Our server Cam was awesome and food was great! Got to try it. Great dumplings!!!“

“Excellent food, the flavor isn't lost even with the ingredients you add to your dish. One recommendation, even though it's at least a pound of food plus noodles, don't use two packets; one is enough and you'll enjoy your meal perfectly. just one think Parking is terrible!!!“

“This is as mom and pop is as good as you can get for 2026. Dad works the floor, summer the daughter helps dad out and mom and other family members work the kitchen. Regardless of what people say about “women in the kitchen” you know the food will be the best food when a restaurant is this way. The food here has soul out into every dish and the consistency is amazing. One of the best restaurants to come to Point Loma. It can get busy from 6-8pm most evenings.

This hard working family is doing an incredible job to bring authentic Chinese to us. Ignore the bad reviews, people have no idea how hard this family is working. The place is small, but thats what makes it so amazing.“

“delicious food! all of it“

“Absolutely excellent food. I went with my Taiwanese friend and he said every dish we got was perfectly authentic. We order the biang biang noodles, mapo tofu, liang pi cold noodles with sesame, and green beans with eggplant. I was enthralled by each dish and enjoyed every bite. Each dish felt like my favorite, but I have to say that the eggplant wowed me thoroughly. Can’t wait to come back!!!

PSA to all non-Asians: you don’t go to an authentic Asian restaurant for the service. That is all. :)“

“I got 5 orders of the kung pao brussel sprouts. I love them so much. I only get these due to the nice smell. it makes me happy. My server Andre said he loves the smell as well and was very nice. Maybe one day me and him can eat some together.“

“Great dining experience for hot pot.“

“Been wanting to try this place.

Waited maybe 5 minutes to grab a table on a Saturday evening at 630.

Portion sizes are huge, deff enough to take home for later. The food is overall great. Really tasty, good quality.

The staff is truly what makes it stand out. They work well together getting plates on table, and bussing tables post dinner for a quick turnaround“

“The braised beef noodle is the queen!!! All other noodles are good too. The beef skewers were delicious, there’s cumin aroma in it, some people dont like cumin. You have to get the sweet tea in the bottle! Omg the jasmine aroma in it and not too sweet. The best noodle! They made it on the spot… Halal!! Wow… rare gem!!“

“Bomb food 🥘 clean dining area good service“

“Food was too yummy. I haven't had authentic Chinese in a long time and this place hit every spot.
Ordered Chengdu style potato snack, steam chicken with chilli oil, Chongqing noodles, spicy jelly noodle and orange chicken. Each of them was a flavor bomb. This restaurant is definitely in my favorites now. Staff was very sweet and accommodating.“

“Good FAST service. Food is reasonably priced for the amount you get. Except the cucumber salad - it’s just a cucumber with some oil I think so should be less but everything was tasty. Soup dumplings were better than the shrimp chicken one. Curry dumplings were delicious and I bet their entrees are amaaaazing.“

“My 2nd time dining in, (3rd if you count a delivery). Skewers are great not only in price but in quality and amount of meat. I didn't know they have a special on Saturday lamb skewer for $1.50 each! My friend her first time here she said 12/10 and she wants to come back. The scenery is beautiful and yes I said scenery, the vibes are great and staff is awesome!“

“It was super busy here on a Monday for lunch and we ended up waiting almost 45 for just 2 out of 3 dishes. We tried to cancel the last dish but they said they were already making it. We ordered the beef chow fun, honey walnut shrimp, and the garlic green beans. We tried to order a stone pot rice dish but the waiter said it was too busy that day to order.“

“The server was the only one working but she got our order out fast and was so nice. The food was absolutely delicious.“

“The Best Ever Chinese Restaurant I Have Ever Been To. My Tita's Loved It So Mucho!!!! 5 star Rating“

“I had never gone to this place before but the food was amazing!! I got the teriyaki chicken with white rice and the chicken was phenomenal! The staff were very sweet and let us sit out on the patio on a hot day. It is very convenient if you are staying at the embassy suites hotel right there.“

“Came here last week with family of four on Friday. Dumplings were great, many varieties.very good soups and seaweed salad. Same quality and taste as Din Tai Fung but much better value and no lines and crowds (yet!)“

“Best sushi in San Diego at reasonable prices! Delicioso!!!“

“It was my first time trying Hot Pot, the food was excellent. The experience was also great. Lots of options and everything was fresh.“

“I'm know Chinese food well and have avoided this restaurant for years thinking it would be too Americanized and not authentic. Cute restaurant, friendly service and ... Tasty food and authentic!! Moderately priced esp for Del Mar. Recommend!!“

“Chill, friendly, good food & reasonable price.“

“Best BBQ Pork and the Lomein is great. Been coming since they opened and never disappointed.“

“Lunchtime specials are where it’s at! There is no place in Hillcrest with this portion, quality, and variety for under $10. You’ve gotta try the chicken teriyaki!“

“Fried garlic pork with steamed rice 😍“

“Fried chicken was delicious and fried noodles.“

“The best place in San Diego for tasty, authentic dim sum from push-carts!🥰😀“

“Spicy House is always on my must-visit list whenever I’m in San Diego, and it never disappoints! My favorites have always been their signature Hunan-style dishes mainly Mapo Tofu and Steamed Fish garnished with spicy sauce are absolutely outstanding. Every dish we ordered was incredibly flavorful and fresh. The spice levels were spot on for our taste buds—bold and authentic without being overwhelming. The consistency in taste and quality keeps me coming back every time I visit San Diego. Highly recommend Spicy House to anyone looking for delicious and authentic Chinese cuisine especially with the Hunan touch!“

“The food was delicious. The music and the vibe of the place was amazing. The staff was attentive and on point!“

“Came here recently with a large group and was very impressed. All the food was delicious and came out very quickly. Excellent dim sum options and dinner dishes. Will come again when I visit again!“

“HIDDEN GEEEEEM!!! This place is inside a grocery store which is unusual find but, hear me out... one of the best places for Chinese food. They have combo meals, and also ala carte meals and it just doesn't look and feel authentic, but it literally takes you to China, or Hong Kong. One of the best pork chops ever and also the steamed vegetables are so tasty! I would definitely go here for a quick lunch grab or a good sit down meal.“

“It’s been ages since I last visited this restaurant! A friend raved about their Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs (Guobaorou), so I came back with some friends. The portion of Guobaorou is generous, and it’s truly delicious—crispy and flavorful. We also ordered Jellyfish with Vinegar Dressing. The jellyfish here is quite thick and chunky, not the smooth, silky kind I’m used to, so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Then there’s the Braised Local Chicken in Iron Pot. The picture looked super tempting, so I specifically asked if it came with the steamed rolls (huajuan) shown in the photo. The waiter told me they only have steamed buns (mantou) instead. When it arrived, turns out they’re machine-made frozen buns bought from the supermarket. This dish is a letdown, so I don’t suggest it either.

On the bright side, the Sizzling Pork Kidneys were pretty good! We also wanted to order Peking Duck, but it requires advance reservation—make sure to call ahead if you want to try it.“

“Tight knit tables. Great food and wonderful, attentive staff always there and present. Found from GarrethEats YouTuber. Have had several different dishes and not disappointed yet. If you like real Cantonese and look too American you might be tempted to order Chin-Meri (think of it as Asian TexMex), but do not be swayed. We always come home with YZ rice and a couple other containers. Still working our way through the menu. There is typically a line, but worth the short wait. The hanging ducks are worth the purchase and filled with perfect flavor. Start with soup and remember the noodles as well. Enjoy!“

“An excellent spot for the spice lover. Went with folks from Hunan that recommended we stick with Hunan regional options. The Farmers stir fried pork, hot and sour lotus root, and meatball soup were delicious. Found the cumin lamb a bit dry. Service was great.“

“05/08/2026
-Shrimp w/ Green Pepper in Black Bean Sauce ($24.95) — Tasty sauce and perfectly cooked shrimp, though the onion and green pepper weren't the freshest.
-Deep-Fried Crispy Intestines ($19.95) — crispy and full of flavor!
-Rice ($2.00)

Note: They offer complimentary hot tea, making them one of the few restaurants that still do.

I had a wonderful early Mother’s Day lunch here.

07-04-2025
-BBQ Pork and Roast Duck on Rice $16.95- crispy pork skin, yummy! Roast Duck, mostly were bones

-Beef Stew Wonton Soup $14.95- tender beef and tasty wonton. The soup broth however was not at the desired temperature. It should be hot and not warm

Note:
Cash only“

“I wish I had the time to try each and every dish…what devoured was absolutely amazingly delicious“

“I loved 🥰 best place more more“

“5 stars
I used to come to Imperial Express all the time after college, and after all these years, it’s still just as amazing—if not even better. The orange chicken is next level—crispy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. The service is always friendly and fast, just like I remembered. It’s a true hidden gem that stands the test of time. Bring cash, eat well, and leave happy. Highly recommend! Muy rico 🤘🏻🙏🏻gracias!“

“A friend recommended this restaurant so tried it over the weekend. They have an English menu and an all Chinese menu. We ordered from both. We ordered the beef noodle soup (5 stars), a tofu fish dish (5 stars), and spicy wonton (3 stars). Everything was really flavorful. We’ll be back.“

“What a bargain for lunch! I was in the mood for lo mein and came upon this restaurant in my search in the area.
I didn't know how much their lunch special were until I sat down and looked at their menu. Wow! You cannot beat $11 for lunch these days and the food was served on a huge platter! I almost laughed when the waitress brought it out to the table.

This is a small restaurant with a few small patio tables in front. It was a weekday and it wasn't busy. The cashier/waitress was really friendly and nice. She had a ready smile for everyone who came in.

I wanted shrimp lo mein for lunch but only chicken or pork lo mein were on the lunch menu. I paid $2 more for shrimp and there were a lot in my dish. It was really good.
The side salad was plain and just mainly iceberg lettuce but the egg roll was good.“

“Good fun but a $10 cover charge“

“Good [Original] Good“

“I love this place! I was having a real hard time finding decent Chinese food here in SD until I discovered City Dragon. OMG! So good! And they are so nice every time I call for delivery which is free! The food is so delicious and so fresh tasting!“

“The best chinese food in San Diego...“

“Xiao long bao pork steamed dumpling were the best we had. The wontons are good but the brith is clear and insipid, we actually brought them home to add very tasty homemade broth. The fried pork and chives dumpling were very well hand made not greasy, crispy bottom. The sauces are just chili oil and soy sauce, we will definitely order to go next time, eat at home with our favorite condiments since I think these would go great with Sriracha and good quality Japanese soy sauce I buy next door @ 99 Ranch.
You can watch the ladies making everything from scratch in the back, super cool and so much work involved. Parking in the back is best. You can also get some delicious bbq pork or duck in the place across from this. Very clean. No bathroom.“

“It was so good! I had to go get a second round of baos ❤️ My kids loved it too!“

“It’s in a supermarket food court, if you know what to order you’ll be pleasantly surprised, we had the scallion lamb and we ordered it a little bit spicy, they can customize their dishes to your taste!! Steamed shrimp dumplings were excellent!! We loved the stir fried string beans!! We’ll definitely be coming back!!“